MPs to allow privatizing GTS, energy minister hopes

News / 13 May 2013 | 15:35

Energy and coal industry minister of Ukraine Eduard Stavytsky hopes that the Ukrainian Parliament will enact legislation, which will allow reforming the Ukrainian gas transportation system.

“I am convinced that the MPs, who really worry about the future of our country and especially about energy security, will very carefully study the bill and take an informed decision that will allow us to defend the public interest,” he told a news conference after talks in Brussels on the development of the gas market of Ukraine, ForUm correspondent reports.

The minister noted that the bill, registered in the Parliament, will still undergo a series of discussions, including in the parliamentary committees. “This bill will be discussed in the committees of Parliament, then there will be the first reading, and I’m sure our dear friends from the opposition will put questions to me as minister and the professionals, who were involved in its development,” he said.

Stavytsky assured that after the approval of the law, the Government will decide on the transparent reform of the Ukrainian gas transport system.

Replying to a question whether Ukraine will get subsequently bilateral or trilateral gas consortium, the minister said: “We hold not only bilateral, but trilateral and quadrilateral talks. The law will allow all interested companies and investors to participate in the negotiations. As for the possibility of some kind of fraud, the government stands on the fact that all the procedures have to be as transparent as possible. This applies to both privatization and other issues, addressed by the Cabinet. “

ForUm

Four thousand elevators to be replaced in Ukraine

News / 13 May 2013 | 15:19

During the next two years, four thousand elevators will be replaced in Ukraine, and installation of meters for water and heat will be completed, regional development, construction and housing minister Hennady Temnyk told a conference, ForUm correspondent reports.

According to him, the program on enhancing economic development focuses on energy efficiency and energy savings.

In addition, Temnyk said that funds will be allocated for modernization of sewage facilities and boilers.

According to him, the installation of meters will be completed by the end of 2013.

ForUm

6 b allocated for program of housing rent with a purchase option

News / 13 May 2013 | 14:50

About 6.5 billion UAH are planned to be allocated under the program of housing rent with a purchase option, regional development, construction and housing minister Hennady Temnyk told a conference, ForUm correspondent reports.

“1 billion will be allocated in 2013 up the start of works and more than 5.6 billion – in 2014,” he said.
The minister also noted that there are already 300 apartments, which are built and can be included in this program.

“Until the end of 2013, builders promise to give about 15 thousand apartments more, which may also be included in the program of rent with purchase option,” Temnyk informed.

According to the minister, the program is developed jointly with the Finance Ministry. In addition, several meetings were held with the participation of vice Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov and vice Prime Minister Oleksandr Vilkul.

“Together with the State Investment Agency we worked out the mechanism. The relevant resolution is being prepared, and soon the Finance Ministry will submit it for consideration,” the minister concluded.

ForUm

PGO resumes investigation into Scherban murder case

News / 13 May 2013 | 14:36

Investigative actions in the case of the killing of MP Yevhen Scherban in 1996, in which former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is charged with organizing the murder, were suspended in connection with the need to perform actions under international legal orders, but the investigation has already resumed.

“The order to suspend the investigation is dated April 26, while the investigation was renewed by an order dated May 13,” the press service of the Prosecutor General’s Office informed on Monday, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

Earlier on Monday, the ex-Premier’s defense counsel, Serhiy Vlasenko, said that the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine stopped the investigation into Scherban’s case.

At the same time, the Ukrainska Pravda web site reported that the investigation into the case was suspended in connection with Kyiv’s request for legal assistance from the Czech Republic and the United States, which was not granted. The investigators most likely requested the interrogation of the ex-Premier’s husband Oleksandr Tymoshenko and former Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko, whom the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine has been unsuccessfully trying to interrogate for several years.

In addition, Ukraine’s first deputy prosecutor general Renat Kuzmin left for Germany to hold meetings on Tymoshenko’s case. His press conference on Scherban’s case was scheduled in Berlin for May 14, but was later canceled.

ForUm

Appeal in Makar’s case to be considered on May 30

News / 13 May 2013 | 14:20

The Court of Appeal of Mykolayiv region will consider the appeal against the sentence on three persons accused of rape and murder of Oksana Makar. Court hearing is scheduled for May 30.

It should be noted that the case of Makar was previously planned to transfer to the Court of Appeal in early March. Then – at the end of March.

However, the appeals were delivered to the court only in five months, after the verdict was announced. All the while, the defendants re-read the sentence and the transcript of court proceedings.

ForUm

SBU officers detain Russian nationalist in Kyiv

News / 13 May 2013 | 14:07

In Kyiv, officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained a 31-year-old citizen of the Russian Federation, who was internationally wanted, charged with a number of grave crimes motivated by ethnic hatred in the territory of Russia, the press service of the SBU informs.

“Ilya Goriachev is a member of a right-wing organization, which professes nationalist ideology. In Ukraine he was hiding from the investigation of the neighboring country and lived in a rented apartment in Kyiv. On May 10, the SBU officers detained him in the capital,” the statement reads.

Now prosecutors decide whether to extradite the indicated person.

Adherent of Goryachev, Mikhail Volkov, was also taken into custody, both accused of involvement in a number of murders motivated by ethnic hatred.

ForUm

47 b allocated for modernization of housing and communal services

News / 13 May 2013 | 13:43

The state program on enhancing economic development for 2013-2014 provides 46.9 billion UAH for modernization of housing and communal services, regional development, construction and housing minister Hennady Temnyk told a conference, ForUm correspondent reports.

“The program on enhancing economic development provides for 36 events worth 46.9 billion UAH. First, eight events provide housing for citizens, who need better housing, 22 activities are aimed at improving the quality of housing services and six activities relate to the regional bloc, including measures that will be taken on the 30-kilometer zone at four existing nuclear power plants,” the minister said.

According to him, the state budget will allocate for these needs 2.2 billion UAH, which makes 5% of local budgets – 4.1 billion UAH, the funds of the IMF loan will amount to 1% and about 85% – other sources including funds under state guarantees.

Temnyk also noted that housing programs will operate during this period. “It includes five programs that already operate – affordable housing, providing young people with housing, cheapening of mortgage cost, two programs of individual builder at 3% and providing disabilities with housing,” he stressed.

The minister also informed about the launch of other two programs. “This is a provision of leased housing with option to purchase and a construction of social housing,” Temnyk said.

ForUm

Unfavorable conditions for spring planting in Ukraine

News / 13 May 2013 | 13:16

There are unfavorable conditions for spring planting in eastern Ukraine, director of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center Mykola Kulbida told a briefing, ForUm correspondent reports.

“Not all spring crops are planted. Now unfavorable conditions are in the east, where there is ball almost dry top soil, and those cereals, which are already sown, grow very poorly,” he said.

However, according to Kulbida, the situation should improve as it will be raining for 10-12 days in the east of Ukraine.

He also noted that, despite the drought, the condition of winter crops, thanks to the reserves of moisture, does not cause significant concern.

 

ForUm